The Springfield was and still is a great rifle. The cooper cases of the day were the culprit. They swelled upon firing, as does a brass case, but unlike brass, they did not "unswell". A ramrod under the barrel would have gone along way to helping those troopers.
Had a Spencer, 56-50, built by the Burnside Rifle Company. Back then, the cartridges were available from collectors and I fired a magazine full. Expensive, but fun. I converted it to CF with a separate breechblock and used modified 50 caliber cases. Still fun but it was not the magic rifle I had heard about. It went down the road at some point. I still have the Burnside and find it the better carbine.
Kevin